Fortunately, the 2017 Washington Redskins have more talent in their defense than they have had in many years. For too long, one of the units that the team neglected was the interior of the defensive line. More recently, the team has been bringing in better talent and, if training camp and the preseason are indications, this squad could be better.

Defensive tackle Phil Taylor Sr., was one player for whom coaches, analysts and fans had lofty expectations based on the flashes and talent he showed this offseason. He has looked like a bona fide nose tackle; a position sorely needed in the 3-4 defensive scheme run by the Redskins. Unfortunately, hopes for his contributions have recently been dashed.

During the Week 3 preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Taylor tore his left quad tendon. He will have surgery on it tomorrow and is now out for the year.

Fortunately, because of the way defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and his defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula, run the defense, all is not lost. Since the beginning of offseason activities, it has become clear that both believe strongly in rotating guys in and out of the defensive line. That, combined with the substantial number of packages and sub-packages that the DC employs, means that the many other defensive linemen the team either brought in or already had on the roster will simply keep doing what they are doing… just without Taylor.

His injury does beg the question though, of who “the” main nose tackle for the Washington Redskins is.

There are several candidates on the team.

“Yeah, Ziggy [Hood] can play there, Stacy [McGee] can play there some too,” coach Jay Gruden said today. “Those guys have played well. There’s been a constant battle throughout OTAs and training camp so those guys will be getting a lot of work. Of course, coach Tomsula’s rotated them in there… different people over different groups as part of the plan. I feel terrible for Phil because he did a great job of getting himself ready to play. He was in excellent shape. It’s an unfortunate injury but the other guys have got to step up.”

In any given rotation, second-year player Matt Ioannidis (who made a huge jump from his rookie year to now0, A.J. Francis, Joey Mbu, Jonathan Allen, Terrell McClain, Ondre Pipkins and Anthony Lanier II are players that have been in and out of the rotations throughout offseason activities and training camp.

It used to be that not all defensive linemen would convert to nose tackle (recall Albert Haynesworth). But in the Redskins’ locker room, guys like Hood and McGee will do whatever it takes for the team to win.

As well as the aforementioned players, with the NFL’s cut-down day on the docket next week, a vast number of guys will be out on the street looking for a new team. Washington isn’t necessarily going to be looking for a nose tackle at that time but if a guy is out there that Gruden thinks can help the team, Washington will bring him in for a workout.

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